feat: add --strip-version/-S and --versions

-S removes VERSION, DOWNLOAD and MD5SUM (plus arch-suffixed variants)
from hint files so slackrepo falls back to the repository's current
version, keeping every other modification. --check now skips hints
with no VERSION line instead of hitting the empty-pattern sed path.

--versions compares the SBo .info, newest built package, hint and
nvchecker upstream versions for one or more packages, coloured like
--list.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

8 files changed, 642 insertions, 9 deletions

diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 3a17d47..5f7f803 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,6 +4,29 @@ All notable changes to this project are documented here. The format is based on
 [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/), and this project adheres to
 [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/).
 
+## [Unreleased]
+
+### Added
+- `--strip-version`/`-S`: remove the version pin *and* the version-dependent
+  download/checksum variables (`VERSION`, `DOWNLOAD`, `MD5SUM`, and their
+  `_x86_64` variants) from hint files so slackrepo falls back to the
+  repository's current version and download data, keeping every other
+  modification (`DELREQUIRES`, `NODOWNLOAD`, `ARCH`, bundled deps). Multiline
+  (backslash-continued) values are removed whole. No args = all hints; one or
+  more names = just those. Backs up a modified hint to `.bak`; a hint with none
+  of those variables is left untouched. Edits the hint only (no `.info`
+  cross-check).
+- `--check`/`-C` now skips hints with no `VERSION` line instead of offering an
+  update, so stripped or `DELREQUIRES`-only hints don't trip the empty-version
+  replacement path.
+- `--versions`: show and compare every known version for one or more packages —
+  the SBo `.info` `VERSION`, the newest built `*.txz` in `PACKAGES_DIR`, the
+  hint's `VERSION`, and (when an nvchecker `[pkg]` section exists) the latest
+  upstream version. Absent sources are omitted but the rest are still compared;
+  colours match `--list` (green = newest, magenta = built behind, yellow = all
+  match). With no nvchecker section the upstream check is skipped and a hint to
+  run `mkhint -C`/`-n <pkg>` is printed.
+
 ## [1.4.0] - 2026-07-10
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index 745dbd7..3746996 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -142,6 +142,23 @@ Test coverage:
 | T65 | `mkhint -v` prints `mkhint <version>`, exit 0 |
 | T66 | `mkhint --version` prints `mkhint <version>`, exit 0 |
 | T67 | `mkhint -V <ver> -n <pkg>` sets hint VERSION (rename works) |
+| T76 | `-S <pkg>` — `VERSION` + `DOWNLOAD`/`MD5SUM` (and `_x86_64`) removed, other vars + `.bak` preserved |
+| T84 | `-S` multiline `DOWNLOAD`/`MD5SUM` — whole blocks removed, no orphan continuation line |
+| T77 | `-S` on a hint with no version-pinned vars — no-op, no `.bak` churn |
+| T78 | `-S` no args — strips every hint that has a `VERSION` |
+| T79 | `-S pkg1 pkg2` — only the named hints stripped |
+| T80 | `-S <missing>` — exit 2 |
+| T81 | `-S` re-run — idempotent, no new `.bak` |
+| T82 | `-S` with `-V` — mutually-exclusive error, exit 1 |
+| T83 | `-C` skips a VERSION-less hint (no empty-pattern sed crash) |
+| T85 | `--versions` SBo/Repo/Hint equal — all three yellow |
+| T86 | `--versions` hint newest — hint green, built behind magenta, SBo plain |
+| T87 | `--versions` only SBo known — SBo line only |
+| T88 | `--versions` only hint known — Hint line only |
+| T89 | `--versions` unknown package — exit 2 |
+| T90 | `--versions` multiple packages — both shown; no args exit 1 |
+| T91 | `--versions` with nvchecker section — Upstream shown, green when newest |
+| T92 | `--versions` no nvchecker section — note printed, exit 0 |
 
 When adding new features, add a corresponding test case to `tests/mkhint_test.sh`.
 
@@ -158,6 +175,8 @@ When adding new features, add a corresponding test case to `tests/mkhint_test.sh
 - `--no-dl` / `-N`: downloads and recalculates checksums as normal, then appends `NODOWNLOAD=yes` after `MD5SUM_x86_64=`. Works with `--hintfile` or `--new`. Error if used alone.
 - `--fix-current` / `-F`: bulk sweep. Loads `PHANTOM_DEPS_FILE`, scans every `.info` in `REPO_DIR`, and for each package whose REQUIRES contains a phantom dep, ensures its hint carries the matching `DELREQUIRES`. No existing hint → create a minimal `DELREQUIRES="..."` file. Existing hint → back up to `.bak` and union the phantom deps into its `DELREQUIRES` line (dedup), leaving all other content untouched. Idempotent: if the deps are already present, the file is left alone and no `.bak` is written. No per-package prompts, safe under `set -e`. Mutually exclusive with `-V`/`-f`/`-n` (exit 1). Empty/missing list → "Nothing to do", exit 0. Helpers: `load_phantom_deps`, `phantom_deps_in_info`, `merge_delrequires`, `fix_current`.
 - `--new` phantom-dep hook: after commenting out REQUIRES, `create_new_hint_file` appends `DELREQUIRES="..."` for any phantom dep found in the `.info` REQUIRES. Same list as `--fix-current`.
+- `--strip-version` / `-S`: removes the version pin *and* the version-dependent variables — `VERSION`, `DOWNLOAD`, `MD5SUM`, and their `_x86_64` (or any arch-suffix) variants — from hint files (bulk over `HINT_DIR` with no args, or one-or-more named packages), so slackrepo falls back to the repository's current version and download/checksum data while every other modification (`DELREQUIRES`, `NODOWNLOAD`, `ARCH`, bundled-dep notes) is kept. Multiline backslash-continued `DOWNLOAD`/`MD5SUM` values are removed whole (no orphan continuation lines) via `_strip_version_vars` (a `perl -i -0pe` slurp substitution `s#^(VERSION|DOWNLOAD|MD5SUM)(_[A-Za-z0-9_-]*)?="[^"]*"\n##mg`). A modified hint is backed up to `.bak` first; a hint with none of those variables is left untouched (idempotent, no `.bak` churn — the "no version pin to strip (skipped)" notice only prints for named targets, so a batch re-run stays quiet). Missing named hint → exit 2. Mutually exclusive with `-V`/`-f`/`-n` (exit 1). Helpers: `strip_version`, `_strip_version_vars`. `-S` edits the hint only — no `.info` cross-check, because unpinning is unconditional (there is nothing to compare). Because a stripped hint has no pinned version, `--check`/`-C` now skips hints with no `VERSION` line (reporting `skip <pkg>: no VERSION in hint`) instead of offering an update — this also fixes the empty-pattern `sed` abort that `update_hint_file`'s global version swap (`s/${old_version}/.../g`) would otherwise hit when `old_version` is empty.
+- `--versions` (long-only): show and compare every known version for one or more package names — the SBo `.info` `VERSION`, the newest built `*.txz` in `PACKAGES_DIR` (via `repo_version`), the hint's `VERSION`, and the latest upstream version when an nvchecker `[pkg]` section exists. One line per present source (`SBo:`/`Repo:`/`Hint:`/`Upstream:`); absent sources are omitted but the remaining ones are still compared. Colours match `--list`: green = newest (via `sort -V` over `_normalize_version`-normalized values), magenta = built `Repo:` behind the newest, yellow = all present match, plain when only one source is present. Upstream is refreshed first (single pkg → `nvchecker -e`, two+ → one full scan) only when at least one package has a section; with no section the check is skipped and a non-interactive note suggests `mkhint -C` / `mkhint -n <pkg>`; a section with no keyfile result shows `(no nvchecker result)`. No information at all → exit 2; no args → exit 1; mutually exclusive with `-V`/`-f`/`-n`. Handler `show_versions` (sibling of `show_info`). A legend prints once when any package had ≥2 sources.
 - `--check` bundled-dep reconcile: `BUNDLE_MANIFEST_FILE` entries are 3-field,
   `<pkg> <mode> <rest>` (field 2 = `url` or `sha`; `bundle_mode <pkg>` reads it,
   the dispatcher `reconcile_bundle_deps` routes on it). `pkg_has_manifest` is true
@@ -262,8 +281,11 @@ retagged, so everything before the tag must be verified first):
    -9 -n -f mkhint.1` (commit the regenerated `mkhint.1.gz`).
 3. **Test.** `bash tests/mkhint_test.sh` must be all-pass. Every feature ships
    its own test case.
-4. **Deploy to the VM and smoke-test there BEFORE tagging.** `scp` the three
-   files to `buildsystem` (`/usr/local/bin/mkhint`,
+4. **Deploy to the VM and smoke-test there BEFORE tagging.** `./deploy.sh` does
+   this automatically (scp + chmod + md5 verification + `mkhint --version`
+   smoke check; `./deploy.sh <host>` or `DEPLOY_HOST=<host>` to override the
+   `buildsystem` alias). Manual equivalent: `scp` the three files to
+   `buildsystem` (`/usr/local/bin/mkhint`,
    `/etc/bash_completion.d/mkhint`, `/usr/local/man/man1/mkhint.1.gz`), confirm
    `mkhint --version` and md5s match local, and exercise the new feature on the
    VM's real data (it has real hints and built packages the mock suite can't
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5b30265..58f3075 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -260,6 +260,59 @@ contains a phantom dep, it adds the matching `DELREQUIRES` for you.
 
 If the list file is missing or empty, both features are no-ops.
 
+### Strip the pinned version
+
+A hint's `VERSION="x.y.z"` line pins that package to a specific version. When the
+repository moves on, that pin goes stale even though the rest of the hint (a
+`DELREQUIRES`, a `NODOWNLOAD=yes`, a custom `ARCH`, …) is still wanted.
+`--strip-version` (`-S`) removes the version pin *and* the version-dependent
+download/checksum variables — `VERSION`, `DOWNLOAD`, `MD5SUM`, and their
+`_x86_64` variants — so slackrepo falls back to the repository's current version
+and its own download/checksum data, while every other edit is kept. Multiline
+(backslash-continued) `DOWNLOAD`/`MD5SUM` values are removed whole. With no
+arguments it sweeps every hint in the directory; with one or more package names
+it strips just those. A modified hint is backed up to `.bak` first, and a hint
+that already has none of those variables is left alone (no `.bak` churn):
+
+```bash
+mkhint --strip-version          # strip all hints
+mkhint -S                       # short form
+mkhint -S pkg1 pkg2             # strip just the named hints
+```
+
+`--strip-version` edits the hint file only; it does not consult the repository
+`.info` (there is no decision to make — unpinning always means dropping the
+pinned version and download data, regardless of what the `.info` currently
+holds). Because a stripped hint has no pinned version to compare, `--check`
+skips it (reporting `no VERSION in hint`) rather than offering an update.
+
+### Show all versions for a package
+
+`--versions` (long form only) reports every version mkhint can find for one or
+more package names and compares them with the same colour rules as `--list`:
+
+```bash
+mkhint --versions llama.cpp-vulkan
+mkhint --versions pkg1 pkg2
+```
+
+For each package it prints one line per known source, omitting any that are
+absent but still comparing the rest:
+
+- `SBo:` — the `VERSION` from the package's `.info` in the repository.
+- `Repo:` — the newest built `*.txz` version in `PACKAGES_DIR`.
+- `Hint:` — the hint file's `VERSION` (if a hint exists).
+- `Upstream:` — the latest version from nvchecker, when the package has a
+  `[pkg]` section in the nvchecker config. A targeted `nvchecker -e` refresh
+  runs first for a single package (a full scan for several). With no section,
+  the upstream check is skipped and a hint to run `mkhint -C` or
+  `mkhint -n <pkg>` is shown instead.
+
+Colour coding matches `--list`: the newest version is **green**, the built
+`Repo:` version is **magenta** when it is behind the newest, and every source is
+**yellow** when all known versions match. A single known source is shown plain.
+A package with no information at all exits 2.
+
 ### Help
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/mkhint b/mkhint
index 38da649..038d4a6 100755
--- a/mkhint
+++ b/mkhint
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
 #   ./mkhint --clean                              Remove .bak files from HINT_DIR
 #   ./mkhint --no-dl --hintfile FILE              Update hint, skip downloads, add NODOWNLOAD=yes
 #   ./mkhint --no-dl --new FILE                   Create hint with NODOWNLOAD=yes
+#   ./mkhint --strip-version [FILE...]            Remove VERSION + DOWNLOAD/MD5SUM pin
+#   ./mkhint --versions PKG...                    Show and compare SBo/built/hint/upstream versions
 #   ./mkhint --help                               Show this help
 
 set -e
@@ -79,6 +81,8 @@ Options:
   --clean, -c              Remove all .bak files from HINT_DIR
   --check, -C [FILE...]    Check hints for upstream updates via nvchecker, update interactively
   --fix-current, -F        Add/merge DELREQUIRES for -current phantom deps across the whole repo
+  --strip-version, -S [FILE...]  Remove VERSION + DOWNLOAD/MD5SUM pin; no args = all hints, FILE... = named
+  --versions PKG...        Show and compare SBo/built/hint/upstream versions for a package
   --delete, -d FILE        Delete a hint file (and .bak if present)
   --no-dl, -N              Skip downloads; add NODOWNLOAD=yes to hint file (use with -f or -n)
   --info, -i FILE          Show category/program path and README for a package
@@ -472,6 +476,56 @@ fix_current() {
     echo "Done. $count package(s) with phantom deps."
 }
 
+# Remove the version-pinned variables (VERSION, DOWNLOAD, MD5SUM and their
+# arch-suffix variants like DOWNLOAD_x86_64) from a hint file. Multiline
+# backslash-continued values are removed whole, not just their first line.
+_strip_version_vars() {
+    local file="$1"
+    perl -i -0pe 's#^(VERSION|DOWNLOAD|MD5SUM)(_[A-Za-z0-9_-]*)?="[^"]*"\n##mg' "$file"
+}
+
+# Strip the version pin from hint files so slackrepo falls back to the
+# repository's current version. Removes VERSION plus the version-dependent
+# DOWNLOAD*/MD5SUM* variables; everything else (DELREQUIRES, NODOWNLOAD, ARCH,
+# bundled-dep notes, etc.) is kept. A modified hint is backed up to .bak first
+# (mkhint convention); a hint with none of those variables is left untouched.
+# Usage: strip_version [pkg...]   (no args = all *.hint in HINT_DIR)
+strip_version() {
+    local targets=()
+    if [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; then
+        targets=("$@")
+    else
+        local f b
+        for f in "$HINT_DIR"/*.hint; do
+            [[ -f "$f" ]] || continue
+            b=$(basename "$f"); targets+=("${b%.hint}")
+        done
+    fi
+
+    local pkg hint stripped=0 named=0
+    [[ $# -gt 0 ]] && named=1
+    for pkg in "${targets[@]}"; do
+        if [[ "$pkg" == *.hint ]]; then
+            hint="${HINT_DIR%/}/${pkg}"
+        else
+            hint="${HINT_DIR%/}/${pkg}.hint"
+        fi
+        if [[ ! -f "$hint" ]]; then
+            echo "Error: Hint file does not exist: $hint" >&2
+            exit 2
+        fi
+        if ! grep -qE '^(VERSION|DOWNLOAD|MD5SUM)' "$hint"; then
+            [[ $named -eq 1 ]] && echo "  ${pkg%.hint}: no version pin to strip (skipped)"
+            continue
+        fi
+        cp "$hint" "${hint}.bak"
+        _strip_version_vars "$hint"
+        echo "  ${pkg%.hint}: stripped VERSION + DOWNLOAD/MD5SUM"
+        (( stripped++ )) || true
+    done
+    echo "Done. $stripped hint(s) stripped."
+}
+
 # ── bundled-dep manifest handling ─────────────────────────────────────────────
 # Reconcile a bundle package's extra DOWNLOAD lines against an upstream deps
 # manifest (opt-in via BUNDLE_MANIFEST_FILE). See docs spec 2026-07-07.
@@ -1146,6 +1200,122 @@ show_info() {
     exit 0
 }
 
+# --versions: show every known version for one or more packages and compare them.
+# Sources: the SBo .info VERSION, the newest built package in PACKAGES_DIR, the
+# hint's VERSION, and (when an nvchecker [pkg] section exists) the latest
+# upstream version. A source with no version is omitted from the version list,
+# but the remaining ones are still compared. Colors match --list: green =
+# newest, magenta = built package behind, yellow = all match.
+show_versions() {
+    if [[ $# -eq 0 ]]; then
+        echo "Error: --versions requires at least one package name" >&2
+        exit 1
+    fi
+    local -a pkgs=("$@")
+
+    local y_on="" g_on="" m_on="" off=""
+    if [[ -n "$MKHINT_FORCE_COLOR" || -t 1 ]]; then
+        if command -v tput &>/dev/null && tput setaf 2 &>/dev/null; then
+            g_on=$(tput setaf 2); y_on=$(tput setaf 3); m_on=$(tput setaf 5); off=$(tput sgr0)
+        else
+            g_on=$'\033[32m'; y_on=$'\033[33m'; m_on=$'\033[35m'; off=$'\033[0m'
+        fi
+    fi
+
+    # Refresh upstream data once for the whole invocation: a single package gets
+    # a targeted `nvchecker -e`, two or more get one full scan. Skip entirely
+    # when no package has a section (or nvchecker/the config is unavailable).
+    local any_section=0 p
+    for p in "${pkgs[@]}"; do
+        _has_nvchecker_section "$p" && { any_section=1; break; }
+    done
+    if [[ $any_section -eq 1 ]] && command -v nvchecker &>/dev/null && [[ -f "$NVCHECKER_CONFIG" ]]; then
+        if [[ ${#pkgs[@]} -eq 1 ]]; then
+            nvchecker -c "$NVCHECKER_CONFIG" -e "${pkgs[0]}" >&2 || true
+        else
+            nvchecker -c "$NVCHECKER_CONFIG" >&2 || true
+        fi
+    fi
+
+    local first=1 pkg saw_multi=0
+    for pkg in "${pkgs[@]}"; do
+        [[ $first -eq 1 ]] || echo ""
+        first=0
+
+        local info_file category sbo=""
+        info_file=$(find "$REPO_DIR" -mindepth 2 -name "${pkg}.info" 2>/dev/null | head -1)
+        if [[ -n "$info_file" && -f "$info_file" ]]; then
+            sbo=$(grep '^VERSION' "$info_file" | cut -d '"' -f2)
+            category=$(basename "$(dirname "$(dirname "$info_file")")")
+        fi
+
+        local repo=""
+        repo=$(repo_version "$pkg")
+
+        local hint=""
+        if [[ -f "${HINT_DIR%/}/${pkg}.hint" ]]; then
+            hint=$(grep '^VERSION' "${HINT_DIR%/}/${pkg}.hint" | cut -d '"' -f2)
+        fi
+
+        # Upstream (already refreshed above): only when a section exists.
+        local upstream="" upstream_note=""
+        if _has_nvchecker_section "$pkg"; then
+            upstream=$(nvchecker_latest "$pkg") || upstream_note="(no nvchecker result)"
+        else
+            upstream_note="(no nvchecker section — run 'mkhint -C' or 'mkhint -n $pkg')"
+        fi
+
+        if [[ -z "$sbo" && -z "$repo" && -z "$hint" && -z "$upstream" ]]; then
+            echo "Error: no version information found for $pkg" >&2
+            exit 2
+        fi
+
+        local header="$pkg"
+        [[ -n "$category" ]] && header="${category}/${pkg}"
+        printf '%s%s%s\n' "$g_on" "$header" "$off"
+
+        # Parallel arrays of the present sources, in display order.
+        local -a labels=() raws=() nrms=() isrepo=()
+        [[ -n "$sbo" ]]      && { labels+=(SBo:);      raws+=("$sbo");      nrms+=("$(_normalize_version "$sbo")");      isrepo+=(0); }
+        [[ -n "$repo" ]]     && { labels+=(Repo:);     raws+=("$repo");     nrms+=("$(_normalize_version "$repo")");     isrepo+=(1); }
+        [[ -n "$hint" ]]     && { labels+=(Hint:);     raws+=("$hint");     nrms+=("$(_normalize_version "$hint")");     isrepo+=(0); }
+        [[ -n "$upstream" ]] && { labels+=(Upstream:); raws+=("$upstream"); nrms+=("$(_normalize_version "$upstream")"); isrepo+=(0); }
+
+        # Comparison over the present versions.
+        local multi=0 all_equal=0 newest=""
+        if [[ ${#nrms[@]} -gt 1 ]]; then
+            multi=1
+            saw_multi=1
+            newest=$(printf '%s\n' "${nrms[@]}" | sort -V | tail -1)
+            all_equal=1
+            local n
+            for n in "${nrms[@]}"; do
+                [[ "$n" == "$newest" ]] || all_equal=0
+            done
+        fi
+
+        local i
+        for (( i=0; i<${#labels[@]}; i++ )); do
+            local col=""
+            if [[ $multi -eq 1 ]]; then
+                if [[ $all_equal -eq 1 ]]; then
+                    col="$y_on"
+                elif [[ "${nrms[$i]}" == "$newest" ]]; then
+                    col="$g_on"
+                elif [[ ${isrepo[$i]} -eq 1 ]]; then
+                    col="$m_on"
+                fi
+            fi
+            printf '  %-9s %s%s%s\n' "${labels[$i]}" "$col" "${raws[$i]}" "${col:+$off}"
+        done
+        [[ -n "$upstream_note" ]] && printf '  %-9s %s\n' "Upstream:" "$upstream_note"
+    done
+
+    if [[ $saw_multi -eq 1 && -n "$g_on" ]]; then
+        echo "(green = newest; magenta = built package behind; yellow = all match)"
+    fi
+}
+
 # Emit the TOML section label for a package: bare if the name is a valid
 # bare key ([A-Za-z0-9_] only), otherwise double-quoted. nvchecker (and TOML)
 # require quoting for names containing '.', '-', etc.
@@ -1723,6 +1893,7 @@ check_updates() {
     for pkg in "${targets[@]}"; do
         local hintpath="${HINT_DIR%/}/${pkg}.hint"
         [[ -f "$hintpath" ]] || { echo "skip ${pkg}: no hint file"; continue; }
+        grep -q '^VERSION=' "$hintpath" || { echo "skip ${pkg}: no VERSION in hint"; continue; }
         local current; current=$(grep '^VERSION=' "$hintpath" | sed 's/VERSION="//;s/"$//')
         local latest
         if ! latest=$(nvchecker_latest "$pkg"); then
@@ -1852,8 +2023,8 @@ check_updates() {
 # Main function
 main() {
     local parsed
-    parsed=$(getopt -o vV:f:n:i:lcCdNhRF \
-        --long version,set-version:,hintfile:,new:,info:,list,clean,check,delete,no-dl,help,review,fix-current,force \
+    parsed=$(getopt -o vV:f:n:i:lcCdNhRFS \
+        --long version,set-version:,hintfile:,new:,info:,list,clean,check,delete,no-dl,help,review,fix-current,force,strip-version,versions \
         -n 'mkhint' -- "$@") || { show_help; exit 1; }
     eval set -- "$parsed"
 
@@ -1900,6 +2071,14 @@ main() {
                 COMMAND="fix-current"
                 shift
                 ;;
+            --strip-version|-S)
+                COMMAND="strip-version"
+                shift
+                ;;
+            --versions)
+                COMMAND="versions"
+                shift
+                ;;
             --delete|-d)
                 COMMAND="delete"
                 shift
@@ -1968,11 +2147,21 @@ main() {
         exit 1
     fi
 
+    if [[ "$COMMAND" == "strip-version" && ( -n "$VERSION" || -n "$HINT_FILE" || -n "$NEW_HINT_FILE" ) ]]; then
+        echo "Error: --strip-version cannot be combined with --set-version/--hintfile/--new" >&2
+        exit 1
+    fi
+
     if [[ "$COMMAND" == "info" && ( -n "$VERSION" || -n "$HINT_FILE" || -n "$NEW_HINT_FILE" ) ]]; then
         echo "Error: --info cannot be combined with --set-version/--hintfile/--new" >&2
         exit 1
     fi
 
+    if [[ "$COMMAND" == "versions" && ( -n "$VERSION" || -n "$HINT_FILE" || -n "$NEW_HINT_FILE" ) ]]; then
+        echo "Error: --versions cannot be combined with --set-version/--hintfile/--new" >&2
+        exit 1
+    fi
+
     if [[ $FORCE -eq 1 && "$COMMAND" != "check" ]]; then
         echo "Error: --force is only valid with --check" >&2
         exit 1
@@ -2019,6 +2208,12 @@ main() {
         fix-current)
             fix_current
             ;;
+        strip-version)
+            strip_version "${DELETE_HINT_FILES[@]}"
+            ;;
+        versions)
+            show_versions "${DELETE_HINT_FILES[@]}"
+            ;;
         info)
             show_info "$INFO_PKG"
             ;;
diff --git a/mkhint.1.gz b/mkhint.1.gz
index ce2c222..3828d31 100644
--- a/mkhint.1.gz
+++ b/mkhint.1.gz
diff --git a/mkhint.1.md b/mkhint.1.md
index 4be6ff4..fdc98b9 100644
--- a/mkhint.1.md
+++ b/mkhint.1.md
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@ mkhint - manage hint files for slackrepo scripts
 
 **mkhint** **\--fix-current**
 
+**mkhint** **\--strip-version** \[*FILE*...]
+
+**mkhint** **\--versions** *PKG*...
+
 **mkhint** **\--list** \[*FILE*...]
 
 **mkhint** **\--review** \[*FILE*...]
@@ -74,13 +78,38 @@ present.
 **\--check**, **-C** \[*FILE*...]
 : Check all (or the named) hints for upstream updates via **nvchecker** and
 apply them interactively. With one package, uses `nvchecker -e`; with two or
-more, one full scan. Mutually exclusive with **-V**.
+more, one full scan. Hints with no `VERSION` line are skipped. Mutually
+exclusive with **-V**.
 
 **\--fix-current**, **-F**
 : Sweep the whole repository. For every package whose `REQUIRES` contains a
 phantom dependency, ensure its hint carries the matching `DELREQUIRES`.
 Idempotent. Mutually exclusive with **-V**, **-f**, **-n**.
 
+**\--strip-version**, **-S** \[*FILE*...]
+: Remove the version pin and its version-dependent variables — `VERSION`,
+`DOWNLOAD`, `MD5SUM`, and their `_x86_64` variants — from hint files so
+slackrepo falls back to the repository's current version and download data,
+keeping every other modification (`DELREQUIRES`, `NODOWNLOAD`, `ARCH`,
+bundled-dep notes). Multiline (backslash-continued) values are removed whole.
+With no arguments, all hints in `HINT_DIR`; with names, only those. A modified
+hint is backed up to `.bak` first; a hint with none of those variables is left
+untouched (no `.bak` churn). Idempotent; edits the hint only (no `.info`
+cross-check). Mutually exclusive with **-V**, **-f**, **-n**.
+
+**\--versions** *PKG*...
+: Show every known version for one or more packages and compare them. One line
+per known source, absent sources omitted: `SBo:` (the `.info` `VERSION`),
+`Repo:` (the newest built `*.txz` in `PACKAGES_DIR`), `Hint:` (the hint's
+`VERSION`), and `Upstream:` (the latest from **nvchecker**, shown only when the
+package has a section in the nvchecker config; a targeted `nvchecker -e` runs
+first for a single package, a full scan for several). With no section, the
+upstream check is skipped and a hint to run **\--check** or **\--new** is
+printed. Colour coding matches **\--list**: newest is green, the built `Repo:`
+version is magenta when behind, all sources are yellow when every known version
+matches, and a single known source is plain. A package with no information at
+all exits 2. Mutually exclusive with **-V**, **-f**, **-n**.
+
 **\--list**, **-l** \[*FILE*...]
 : List all hint files with their hint version, `.info` version, a
 `DelReq` marker (populated `DELREQUIRES`), and a `NoDL` marker
@@ -160,6 +189,9 @@ List, review, sweep, delete, clean:
     mkhint --list mypackage
     mkhint --review
     mkhint --fix-current
+    mkhint --strip-version           # all hints
+    mkhint --strip-version pkg1 pkg2 # named hints
+    mkhint --versions mypackage      # SBo + built + hint + upstream
     mkhint --delete mypackage
     mkhint --info mypackage
     mkhint --clean
@@ -237,7 +269,7 @@ manifest during **\--check**. See BUNDLED DEPENDENCIES.
 
 A bash completion script ships with **mkhint** (install to
 */etc/bash-completion.d/mkhint*). It completes long and short options and, for
-**-f**, **-n**, **-d**, **-C**, **-R**, and **-l**, the package names from their
+**-f**, **-n**, **-d**, **-C**, **-S**, **-R**, **--versions**, and **-l**, the package names from their
 respective directories. With **-f** *package* already on the command line,
 **-V** *TAB* suggests the current `VERSION` from that package's hint. The
 completion script sources the same *~/.config/mkhint/config*, so its paths stay
diff --git a/mkhint.bash-completion b/mkhint.bash-completion
index c7c4a14..22c8df9 100644
--- a/mkhint.bash-completion
+++ b/mkhint.bash-completion
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ _mkhintfile_completions() {
     hint_dir="${HINT_DIR:-$hint_dir}"
     repo_dir="${repo_dir%/}"; hint_dir="${hint_dir%/}"
 
-    local all_flags="--version -v --set-version -V --hintfile -f --new -n --list -l --review -R --clean -c --check -C --fix-current -F --delete -d --no-dl -N --info -i --force --help -h"
+    local all_flags="--version -v --set-version -V --hintfile -f --new -n --list -l --review -R --clean -c --check -C --fix-current -F --strip-version -S --versions --delete -d --no-dl -N --info -i --force --help -h"
 
     # -R/--review and -l/--list take any number of hint names; complete them repeatedly.
     local w in_review=""
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ _mkhintfile_completions() {
     fi
 
     case "$prev" in
-        --new|-n|--info|-i)
+        --new|-n|--info|-i|--versions)
             # Packages live at REPO_DIR/<category>/<pkg>/; complete the pkg dir
             # names. Strip the trailing slash and category prefix with param
             # expansion (no per-dir basename fork — the repo has thousands).
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ _mkhintfile_completions() {
             done
             COMPREPLY=($(compgen -W "${words[*]}" -- "$cur"))
             ;;
-        --hintfile|-f|--delete|-d|--check|-C)
+        --hintfile|-f|--delete|-d|--check|-C|--strip-version|-S)
             local -a words=()
             for f in "$hint_dir"/*.hint; do
                 [[ -f "$f" ]] && words+=("$(basename "${f%.hint}")")
diff --git a/tests/mkhint_test.sh b/tests/mkhint_test.sh
index a21ff86..2e885dd 100755
--- a/tests/mkhint_test.sh
+++ b/tests/mkhint_test.sh
@@ -1297,6 +1297,314 @@ code=$?
 set -e
 assert_exit_code    "mutually exclusive"     1 "$code"
 
+# ── T76: -S strips VERSION + DOWNLOAD/MD5SUM, keeps other edits, backs up ──────
+echo ""
+echo "T76: --strip-version removes VERSION + DOWNLOAD/MD5SUM, preserves other content"
+rm -f "$MOCK_HINT"/*.hint "$MOCK_HINT"/*.bak 2>/dev/null
+cat > "$MOCK_HINT/curl.hint" << 'EOF'
+VERSION="8.9.0"
+ARCH="x86_64"
+DELREQUIRES="rust-opt"
+DOWNLOAD="https://curl.se/download/curl-8.9.0.tar.gz"
+MD5SUM="abc123def456abc123def456abc123de"
+DOWNLOAD_x86_64="https://curl.se/download/curl-8.9.0.tar.gz"
+MD5SUM_x86_64="abc123def456abc123def456abc123de"
+NODOWNLOAD=yes
+EOF
+run_mkhint -S curl
+assert_not_contains "VERSION line removed"   "$MOCK_HINT/curl.hint" '^VERSION='
+assert_not_contains "DOWNLOAD removed"       "$MOCK_HINT/curl.hint" '^DOWNLOAD'
+assert_not_contains "MD5SUM removed"         "$MOCK_HINT/curl.hint" '^MD5SUM'
+assert_contains     "ARCH preserved"         "$MOCK_HINT/curl.hint" 'ARCH="x86_64"'
+assert_contains     "DELREQUIRES preserved"  "$MOCK_HINT/curl.hint" 'DELREQUIRES="rust-opt"'
+assert_contains     "NODOWNLOAD preserved"   "$MOCK_HINT/curl.hint" 'NODOWNLOAD=yes'
+assert_file_exists  "backup made"            "$MOCK_HINT/curl.hint.bak"
+assert_contains     "backup has old VERSION" "$MOCK_HINT/curl.hint.bak" 'VERSION="8.9.0"'
+assert_contains     "backup has old DOWNLOAD" "$MOCK_HINT/curl.hint.bak" 'curl-8.9.0.tar.gz'
+
+# ── T84: -S removes whole multiline DOWNLOAD/MD5SUM blocks ────────────────────
+echo ""
+echo "T84: --strip-version removes multiline DOWNLOAD/MD5SUM blocks whole"
+rm -f "$MOCK_HINT"/*.hint "$MOCK_HINT"/*.bak 2>/dev/null
+cat > "$MOCK_HINT/nvim.hint" << 'EOF'
+VERSION="0.13.0"
+DOWNLOAD="https://github.com/neovim/neovim/archive/v0.13.0/neovim-0.13.0.tar.gz \
+    https://github.com/tree-sitter/tree-sitter/archive/v0.26.7/tree-sitter-0.26.7.tar.gz"
+MD5SUM="aaa \
+    bbb"
+ARCH="x86_64"
+DELREQUIRES="rust-opt"
+EOF
+run_mkhint -S nvim
+assert_not_contains "VERSION removed"            "$MOCK_HINT/nvim.hint" '^VERSION='
+assert_not_contains "DOWNLOAD block removed"     "$MOCK_HINT/nvim.hint" '^DOWNLOAD'
+assert_not_contains "MD5SUM block removed"       "$MOCK_HINT/nvim.hint" '^MD5SUM'
+assert_not_contains "no orphan continuation URL" "$MOCK_HINT/nvim.hint" 'tree-sitter'
+assert_contains     "ARCH preserved"             "$MOCK_HINT/nvim.hint" 'ARCH="x86_64"'
+assert_contains     "DELREQUIRES preserved"      "$MOCK_HINT/nvim.hint" 'DELREQUIRES="rust-opt"'
+
+# ── T77: -S on a VERSION-less hint → no-op, no .bak churn ─────────────────────
+echo ""
+echo "T77: --strip-version on versionless hint → no-op, no .bak"
+cat > "$MOCK_HINT/novers.hint" << 'EOF'
+ARCH="x86_64"
+DELREQUIRES="rust-opt"
+EOF
+rm -f "$MOCK_HINT/novers.hint.bak"
+out=$(run_mkhint -S novers 2>&1)
+assert_file_not_exists "no .bak churn"       "$MOCK_HINT/novers.hint.bak"
+echo "$out" | grep -q "no version pin to strip" \
+    && { echo "  PASS: reports no version pin to strip"; (( PASS++ )); } \
+    || { echo "  FAIL: skip message missing"; echo "$out" | sed 's/^/        /'; (( FAIL++ )); ERRORS+=("T77 skip msg"); }
+assert_contains     "hint untouched"         "$MOCK_HINT/novers.hint" 'DELREQUIRES="rust-opt"'
+
+# ── T78: -S batch (no args) strips every VERSION-carrying hint ────────────────
+echo ""
+echo "T78: --strip-version with no args strips all hints that have a VERSION"
+rm -f "$MOCK_HINT"/*.hint "$MOCK_HINT"/*.bak 2>/dev/null
+cat > "$MOCK_HINT/curl.hint" << 'EOF'
+VERSION="8.9.0"
+ARCH="x86_64"
+EOF
+cat > "$MOCK_HINT/clion.hint" << 'EOF'
+VERSION="2025.5"
+ARCH="x86_64"
+EOF
+cat > "$MOCK_HINT/novers.hint" << 'EOF'
+ARCH="x86_64"
+DELREQUIRES="rust-opt"
+EOF
+run_mkhint -S
+assert_not_contains "curl VERSION stripped"  "$MOCK_HINT/curl.hint" '^VERSION='
+assert_not_contains "clion VERSION stripped" "$MOCK_HINT/clion.hint" '^VERSION='
+assert_contains     "novers untouched"       "$MOCK_HINT/novers.hint" 'DELREQUIRES="rust-opt"'
+
+# ── T79: -S pkg1 pkg2 strips only the named hints ─────────────────────────────
+echo ""
+echo "T79: --strip-version two named hints, unrelated hint untouched"
+rm -f "$MOCK_HINT"/*.hint "$MOCK_HINT"/*.bak 2>/dev/null
+cat > "$MOCK_HINT/curl.hint" << 'EOF'
+VERSION="8.9.0"
+ARCH="x86_64"
+EOF
+cat > "$MOCK_HINT/clion.hint" << 'EOF'
+VERSION="2025.5"
+ARCH="x86_64"
+EOF
+cat > "$MOCK_HINT/wget.hint" << 'EOF'
+VERSION="1.25.0"
+ARCH="x86_64"
+EOF
+run_mkhint -S curl clion
+assert_not_contains "curl stripped"          "$MOCK_HINT/curl.hint" '^VERSION='
+assert_not_contains "clion stripped"         "$MOCK_HINT/clion.hint" '^VERSION='
+assert_contains     "wget left alone"        "$MOCK_HINT/wget.hint" 'VERSION="1.25.0"'
+
+# ── T80: -S on missing hint → exit 2 ──────────────────────────────────────────
+echo ""
+echo "T80: --strip-version on nonexistent hint → exit 2"
+set +e
+run_mkhint -S ghost_package 2>/dev/null
+code=$?
+set -e
+assert_exit_code "strip missing exits 2" 2 "$code"
+
+# ── T81: -S idempotent → second run creates no new .bak ───────────────────────
+echo ""
+echo "T81: --strip-version idempotent on second run"
+rm -f "$MOCK_HINT"/*.hint "$MOCK_HINT"/*.bak 2>/dev/null
+cat > "$MOCK_HINT/curl.hint" << 'EOF'
+VERSION="8.9.0"
+ARCH="x86_64"
+EOF
+run_mkhint -S curl
+rm -f "$MOCK_HINT/curl.hint.bak"
+run_mkhint -S curl
+assert_file_not_exists "no .bak churn on re-run" "$MOCK_HINT/curl.hint.bak"
+
+# ── T82: -S combined with -V → mutually-exclusive error exit 1 ────────────────
+echo ""
+echo "T82: --strip-version with -V → exit 1"
+set +e
+run_mkhint -S -V 1.0.0 2>/dev/null
+code=$?
+set -e
+assert_exit_code "strip + -V exits 1" 1 "$code"
+
+# ── T83: -C skips a VERSION-less hint instead of crashing ─────────────────────
+echo ""
+echo "T83: --check skips versionless hints (no empty-pattern sed crash)"
+rm -f "$MOCK_HINT"/*.hint "$MOCK_HINT"/*.bak 2>/dev/null
+cat > "$MOCK_HINT/novers.hint" << 'EOF'
+ARCH="x86_64"
+DELREQUIRES="rust-opt"
+EOF
+cat > "$MOCK_BASE/nvchecker.toml" << EOF
+[__config__]
+oldver = "$MOCK_BASE/old_ver.json"
+newver = "$MOCK_BASE/new_ver.json"
+EOF
+cat > "$MOCK_BASE/new_ver.json" << 'EOF'
+{ "version": 2, "data": { "novers": { "version": "9.9.9" } } }
+EOF
+set +e
+out=$(run_mkhint -C novers < <(printf 'Y\n') 2>&1)
+code=$?
+set -e
+assert_exit_code "check versionless exits 0" 0 "$code"
+echo "$out" | grep -q "no VERSION in hint" \
+    && { echo "  PASS: reports skip for versionless hint"; (( PASS++ )); } \
+    || { echo "  FAIL: skip message missing"; echo "$out" | sed 's/^/        /'; (( FAIL++ )); ERRORS+=("T83 skip msg"); }
+assert_not_contains "hint not re-pinned"      "$MOCK_HINT/novers.hint" '^VERSION='
+
+# ── T85: --versions three equal sources → all yellow ──────────────────────────
+echo ""
+echo "T85: --versions SBo/Repo/Hint equal → all yellow"
+rm -f "$MOCK_HINT"/*.hint "$MOCK_HINT"/*.bak 2>/dev/null
+rm -rf "$MOCK_PKGS"
+cat > "$MOCK_HINT/curl.hint" << 'EOF'
+VERSION="8.5.0"
+ARCH="x86_64"
+EOF
+seed_pkg network curl 8.5.0
+out=$(MKHINT_FORCE_COLOR=1 run_mkhint --versions curl 2>&1)
+echo "$out" | grep -q 'SBo:.*8\.5\.0' && echo "$out" | grep -q 'Repo:.*8\.5\.0' && echo "$out" | grep -q 'Hint:.*8\.5\.0' \
+    && { echo "  PASS: SBo/Repo/Hint shown"; (( PASS++ )); } \
+    || { echo "  FAIL: sources missing"; echo "$out" | sed 's/^/        /'; (( FAIL++ )); ERRORS+=("T85 sources"); }
+[[ $(echo "$out" | grep -c $'\033\[33m') -eq 3 ]] \
+    && { echo "  PASS: all three yellow"; (( PASS++ )); } \
+    || { echo "  FAIL: expected 3 yellow lines"; echo "$out" | cat -v | sed 's/^/        /'; (( FAIL++ )); ERRORS+=("T85 yellow"); }
+
+# ── T86: --versions hint newest → green; built behind → magenta ───────────────
+echo ""
+echo "T86: --versions hint newest → green, built behind → magenta, SBo plain"
+rm -f "$MOCK_HINT"/*.hint "$MOCK_HINT"/*.bak 2>/dev/null
+rm -rf "$MOCK_PKGS"
+cat > "$MOCK_HINT/curl.hint" << 'EOF'
+VERSION="8.6.0"
+ARCH="x86_64"
+EOF
+seed_pkg network curl 8.4.0
+out=$(MKHINT_FORCE_COLOR=1 run_mkhint --versions curl 2>&1)
+echo "$out" | grep -q $'\033\[32m8\.6\.0' \
+    && { echo "  PASS: hint newest green"; (( PASS++ )); } \
+    || { echo "  FAIL: hint not green"; echo "$out" | cat -v | sed 's/^/        /'; (( FAIL++ )); ERRORS+=("T86 green"); }
+echo "$out" | grep -q $'\033\[35m8\.4\.0' \
+    && { echo "  PASS: built behind magenta"; (( PASS++ )); } \
+    || { echo "  FAIL: repo not magenta"; echo "$out" | cat -v | sed 's/^/        /'; (( FAIL++ )); ERRORS+=("T86 magenta"); }
+echo "$out" | grep 'SBo:' | grep -q $'\033' \
+    && { echo "  FAIL: SBo should be plain"; (( FAIL++ )); ERRORS+=("T86 sbo plain"); } \
+    || { echo "  PASS: SBo plain"; (( PASS++ )); }
+
+# ── T87: --versions only SBo known → single line ──────────────────────────────
+echo ""
+echo "T87: --versions only SBo known → SBo shown, no Repo/Hint"
+rm -f "$MOCK_HINT"/*.hint "$MOCK_HINT"/*.bak 2>/dev/null
+rm -rf "$MOCK_PKGS"
+out=$(run_mkhint --versions curl 2>&1)
+echo "$out" | grep -q 'SBo:.*8\.5\.0' \
+    && ! echo "$out" | grep -q 'Repo:' && ! echo "$out" | grep -q 'Hint:' \
+    && { echo "  PASS: SBo shown, no Repo/Hint"; (( PASS++ )); } \
+    || { echo "  FAIL: block wrong"; echo "$out" | sed 's/^/        /'; (( FAIL++ )); ERRORS+=("T87 block"); }
+
+# ── T88: --versions only hint known → Hint shown ──────────────────────────────
+echo ""
+echo "T88: --versions only hint known → Hint shown"
+rm -f "$MOCK_HINT"/*.hint "$MOCK_HINT"/*.bak 2>/dev/null
+rm -rf "$MOCK_PKGS"
+cat > "$MOCK_HINT/orphanpkg.hint" << 'EOF'
+VERSION="3.0.0"
+ARCH="x86_64"
+EOF
+out=$(run_mkhint --versions orphanpkg 2>&1)
+echo "$out" | grep -q 'Hint:.*3\.0\.0' \
+    && ! echo "$out" | grep -q 'SBo:' && ! echo "$out" | grep -q 'Repo:' \
+    && { echo "  PASS: hint shown, no SBo/Repo"; (( PASS++ )); } \
+    || { echo "  FAIL: hint block wrong"; echo "$out" | sed 's/^/        /'; (( FAIL++ )); ERRORS+=("T88 hint"); }
+
+# ── T89: --versions unknown package → exit 2 ──────────────────────────────────
+echo ""
+echo "T89: --versions unknown package → exit 2"
+rm -f "$MOCK_HINT"/*.hint "$MOCK_HINT"/*.bak 2>/dev/null
+rm -rf "$MOCK_PKGS"
+set +e
+out=$(run_mkhint --versions ghost_package 2>&1)
+code=$?
+set -e
+assert_exit_code "unknown package exits 2" 2 "$code"
+
+# ── T90: --versions multiple packages + no-args error ─────────────────────────
+echo ""
+echo "T90: --versions multiple packages shown; no args exits 1"
+rm -f "$MOCK_HINT"/*.hint "$MOCK_HINT"/*.bak 2>/dev/null
+rm -rf "$MOCK_PKGS"
+cat > "$MOCK_HINT/curl.hint" << 'EOF'
+VERSION="8.6.0"
+ARCH="x86_64"
+EOF
+cat > "$MOCK_HINT/clion.hint" << 'EOF'
+VERSION="2025.5"
+ARCH="x86_64"
+EOF
+out=$(run_mkhint --versions curl clion 2>&1)
+echo "$out" | grep -q 'network/curl' && echo "$out" | grep -q 'development/clion' \
+    && { echo "  PASS: both packages shown"; (( PASS++ )); } \
+    || { echo "  FAIL: multiple blocks missing"; echo "$out" | sed 's/^/        /'; (( FAIL++ )); ERRORS+=("T90 multiple"); }
+set +e
+run_mkhint --versions 2>/dev/null
+code=$?
+set -e
+assert_exit_code "no args exits 1" 1 "$code"
+
+# ── T91: --versions upstream present → Upstream shown, green when newest ──────
+echo ""
+echo "T91: --versions with nvchecker section → Upstream line, green when newest"
+rm -f "$MOCK_HINT"/*.hint "$MOCK_HINT"/*.bak 2>/dev/null
+rm -rf "$MOCK_PKGS"
+cat > "$MOCK_BASE/nvchecker.toml" << EOF
+[__config__]
+oldver = "$MOCK_BASE/old_ver.json"
+newver = "$MOCK_BASE/new_ver.json"
+
+[curl]
+source = "github"
+github = "curl/curl"
+EOF
+cat > "$MOCK_BASE/new_ver.json" << 'EOF'
+{ "version": 2, "data": { "curl": { "version": "8.9.0" } } }
+EOF
+cat > "$MOCK_HINT/curl.hint" << 'EOF'
+VERSION="8.5.0"
+ARCH="x86_64"
+EOF
+seed_pkg network curl 8.4.0
+out=$(MKHINT_FORCE_COLOR=1 run_mkhint --versions curl 2>&1)
+echo "$out" | grep -q 'Upstream:.*8\.9\.0' \
+    && { echo "  PASS: Upstream shown"; (( PASS++ )); } \
+    || { echo "  FAIL: Upstream missing"; echo "$out" | sed 's/^/        /'; (( FAIL++ )); ERRORS+=("T91 upstream"); }
+echo "$out" | grep -q $'\033\[32m8\.9\.0' \
+    && { echo "  PASS: upstream newest green"; (( PASS++ )); } \
+    || { echo "  FAIL: upstream not green"; echo "$out" | cat -v | sed 's/^/        /'; (( FAIL++ )); ERRORS+=("T91 green"); }
+
+# ── T92: --versions no nvchecker section → note, exit 0 ───────────────────────
+echo ""
+echo "T92: --versions without nvchecker section → note, not an error"
+rm -f "$MOCK_HINT"/*.hint "$MOCK_HINT"/*.bak 2>/dev/null
+rm -rf "$MOCK_PKGS"
+cat > "$MOCK_BASE/nvchecker.toml" << EOF
+[__config__]
+oldver = "$MOCK_BASE/old_ver.json"
+newver = "$MOCK_BASE/new_ver.json"
+EOF
+set +e
+out=$(run_mkhint --versions curl 2>&1)
+code=$?
+set -e
+assert_exit_code "no-section check exits 0" 0 "$code"
+echo "$out" | grep -q "no nvchecker section" \
+    && { echo "  PASS: no-section note shown"; (( PASS++ )); } \
+    || { echo "  FAIL: note missing"; echo "$out" | sed 's/^/        /'; (( FAIL++ )); ERRORS+=("T92 note"); }
+
 # ── T57: -l skips hints with no VERSION ──────────────────────────────────────
 echo ""
 echo "T57: -l lists only hints that have a VERSION"